SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — China's stock market extended its loss for a second day while other Asian stocks were mostly up Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy posted solid growth during the second quarter. KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.2 percent to 3,662.56 and South Korea's Kospi was down 0.3 percent to 2,012.82. Japan's Nikkei 225 was flat at 20,525.29 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.4 percent to 24,602.11. Stocks in Australia and New Zealand were higher as well as most stocks in Southeast Asia. CHINA'S SWING: The Shanghai benchmark extended its losing streak for a second straight day. The index suffered its biggest one-day drop in eight years on Monday when it plunged 8.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker that was the target of environmental protesters left Portland, Oregon, on Thursday bound for an Arctic drilling operation after a tense standoff ended with kayakers and activists who had dangled from a bridge to block its path. The Fennica left dry dock and made its way down the Willamette River toward the Pacific Ocean soon after authorities forced the demonstrators from the river and the St. Johns Bridge. Several protesters in kayaks moved toward the center of the river as the ship began its trip, but authorities in boats and personal watercraft cleared a narrow pathway for the Fennica. Authorities also jumped into the water to physically remove some protesters wh

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, retreating from highs for the year and amplifying the incentive for prospective home buyers.
Mortgage giant Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 4.04 percent from 4.09 percent a week earlier. The rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped to 3.21 percent from 3.25 percent.
As in recent weeks, mortgage rates followed the yield on the key 10-year Treasury note, which declined. Bond yields for Treasurys were pushed lower by a rise in bond prices. The yield on the 10-year note eased to 2.33 percent Wednesday from 2.36 percent a week earlier. It held steady in trading Thursday morning at 2.33 percent.

HOUSTON (AP) — A massive recall has brought more attention and put more pressure on a century-old Texas ice cream company that has been searching to discover how its products became linked to a deadly string of listeria cases.
Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries said Tuesday, a day after recalling all its products, that it is getting closer to pinpointing the cause of the contamination. Amid those efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the number of illnesses linked to the company's products has increased to 10.
"As each day passes, we are getting closer and closer to figuring out how this listeria was introduced into our facilities. ... It's a matter of doing the work and not making

BRENHAM, Texas (AP) — Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries issued a voluntary recall Monday night for all of its products on the market after two samples of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for listeriosis.
The company "can't say with certainty" how the bacteria was introduced to the manufacturing line, Blue Bell's chief executive Paul Kruse said in a statement.
"We're committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe," Kruse said.
The first recall in the family-owned creamery's 108-year history was issued last month after the U.S.